This 1911 Pierce-Arrow Model SS (48 hp) Touring wears a 1915 New York Dealers license plate. The founder, George N. Pierce, had passed away in 1909 but the company was doing well in the hands of then president, George K. Birge. This big six-cylinder touring would have retailed for $5,000, the equivalent of roughly $125,000 in today’s market.
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| 1911 Pierce-Arrow Model 48 Touring from the collection of the author |
The pierce-Arrow was one of the finest brands available in America and was the choice of many society folks and wealthy business people. As an example, when the Indianapolis Dealers Association held their Mardi Gras Parade in 1911, a Pierce-Arrow was chosen for dignitaries to ride in.
The 1911 New York Automobile show was featuring the advancements made in body building (coachbuilding). Pierce-Arrow was an early proponent of design and had opened their art and color department three years prior. According to Automobile Topics of January 14, 1911, Pierce-Arrow displayed: “a five-passenger limousine finished in blue with white stripes and grey wheels and upholstered in purple broadcloth; a fore-door seven-passenger touring car finished in grey with green stripes and wheels, having silver trimmings and upholstered in green leather; and a fore-door four-passenger close coupled in fawn color with brown wheels and leather.”
However, the real show stopper was their “George Washington Coach”, a five-passenger touring landaulet mounted on the six-cylinder, 66 hp chassis. Fitted for long-distance touring it featured a folding wash basin, a luncheon locker, and toilet. The car was painted green with an autumn brown stripe and proudly displayed hand-painted panels on each door by Ernest Fosbery with Mt Vernon on one side and the city of Washington DC on the other.
1911 was also the year that Pierce-Arrow entered the truck business competing with the likes of Packard.
Piece-Arrows were manufactured in Buffalo, New York, however, they had a robust dealer network through the state and beyond. I wish I knew which dealer this plate represents, regardless, it’s clear from the photo that this particular Pierce-Arrow saw much use over its short four-year life span.